Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-07

which the present condition tends, AFFORD no
greater shelter or protection to our manufactures
thsn to our other important enterprises. Oppor-
tanity for safe, careful and deliberate reform is
now offered and none of US should be unnind-
ful OF time when an abused and irritated people,
needless of those who have resisted timely and
reasonable relief, may insist upon a radical and
sweeping rectihcation of their wrongs.
The difficulty attending wise and fair revis-
ion of our tariff laws is not under-estimated
1t will require on the part of congress great labor
and care, and especially broad and national
contemplation Of the subject, and a patriotic dis
regard OF such local and selfish claims as are un-
reasonable and reckless Of the welfare of the en-
tire country.
are subject to duty. Many of these do not IN any
way compete with our own manufactures, and
many are hardly worth attention as subjects of
revenue. considerable reduction can be made
IN the aggregate by adding them to the free liEt.
The taxation OF Injuries presents no features of
hardship but the necessaries OF life used and
consumed by all the people, the duty upon which
adds TO the cost of living in every home, should
be greatly cheapened. The radical reduction OF
the duties imposed upon raw msterial used in
manufactures, or its free importation, is of
course, an important factor in any effort to re-
duce the price of these necessaries; it would not
only relieve them from the increased cost caused
by the tariff on such material, but the manafaet-
ured product being thus cheapened that part of
the tariff now laid upon such product, as a com
pensation to our manufacturers for the present
price OF raw material, could be accordingly mod
iied. Such reduction, or free importation, would
serve besides to largely reduce the
revenue. 1t is not apparent how
such change can have any injurious
effect upon our manufacturers. On the contrary
it would appear to give them better chance in
foreign markets with the manufacturers of other
countries who cheaper their wares by nee ma
terihl. Thus our people might have
the opportunity of extending their sales
beyond the limits OF home consump-
ton saving them from the depression,
interruption in business and loss caused by a
glutted domestic Market and sffording their en-
ploves more certain and steady labor, with it's
sulting quiet and contentment
The question thus imperatively presented for
solution should be approached in spirit higher
than partisansh!p, and considered i'll the light of
that regard for patriotic duty which should
characterize the action Of those intrusted with
the veal of a conhding people. But the obliga-
ton to declared party policy and principle is not
wanting to urge prompt and effective action.
Both OF the great political parties now repre-
sented in the government. have, by repeated
and authoritative declarations, condemned the
condition OF our laws which permit the collec-
ton from the people of unnecessary revenue
and have, in the most solemn manner. promised
correction; and neither as citizens or parti-
sans are our eountrymen in a mood to condone
the deliberate violation of these pledges.
Our progress toward a wise conclusion will not
be improved by dwelling upon the theories Of
protection and free trade This savors too much
of bandying epithets. 1t is condition which
confrcnts us-not theory. Relief from this
condition may involve slight reduction OF the
advantages which We award our home produc-
TONS but the entire withdrawal of such advan-
tages should not be contemplated. The question
of free trade is absolutely irrelevant and the per
sistent claims made III certain quarters that all
EFFORT to relieve the people from unjust and I'm
necessary taxation are schemes Of so-called free
traders is mischievous and Tar removed from
! any consideration for the public good. The
simple and plain duty which we owe the people
| is to reduce taxation to the necessary expenses
| of an economical oper alton OF the government,
and to restore to the business OF the country the
money which we hold in the treasury through
/ the perversion of governmental powers. These
things can and should be done with safety to all
our indus tries. without danger to the opportun
ity for reInunerattve labor which our working
men need, and with benefit to them and all oui
| people. by cheapening their means of subsis
tenee and increasing the measure OF their com
! forts.
The constitution provides that Spe president
/ ''shall, from time to time, give tothe congress-
I Information Of the state of the Union" 1t hs.
been the custom of the executive, in compliance
| with this provision, TO annually exhibit to the
! congress at the opening of its session, the gen
ersl condition of the country, and to detail, with
some particularly, the operations of the differ
I ent executive departments. 1t would be espe
eially agreeable to follow this course at the pres
ent time, and TO call attention to the valuable
I accomplishments OF these departments durinl
the last fiscal year, but am much impressed
with the paramount Importance of the sublec
to which this communication has thus far beer
devoted, that l shall forego the addition OF an
other topic and only urge upon your immediate
consideration the state Of the Union" as shown
in the present condition OF our treasury and oul
general fiscal situation, upon which every Gle
ment of our safety and prosperity depends
The reports of the heads Of departments, whicl
will be submitted, contain fu and explicit
information touching the transactions o
the business intrusted to them and such recon
mendatiOns relating TO legislation in the publ
interest as they deem advisable. ! ask for thes
reports and recommendations the deliberate eS
animation and action of the legislative branch q
the government
There other subjects not embraced in tn
departmental reports demanding legislative con
sderatinu and which should be glad to submit
Some Of them however have been earnestl
| presented in previous messages. and as to them
beg leave to repeat prior recommendations. A
the law makes provision for any report frnr
the department of state, brief history Of tn
transactions of that important department tt
gethsr with other matters which it may here
after be deemed essential to commend to tn
attention OF the congress, may furnish the occs
sion for future communication.
GROVER CLEVELAND.